John Lackey perseveres to pitch the Red Sox to a 2-0 lead

BOSTON -- No, it wasn't the start John Lackey wanted.

It was his shortest outing since May. He allowed at least four runs for the third time in as many starts against the Rays this season.

And yet, Lackey sported a wide smile at the postgame podium. He had left to a standing ovation in the sixth inning at Fenway Park. He had done his job, and unlike so many other times this season when he deserved it, he ended this night with a W next to his name.

Lackey's first postseason start in a Red Sox uniform was also his first start of any kind since September 24. That rust showed early, as the usually reliable strike-thrower walked three, including leadoff free passes in each of the first two innings.

"I thought my stuff felt pretty good, as far as the spinning the breaking ball," said Lackey. "But the command just kind of was hit or miss for pretty much the whole time I was out there."

Lackey has had better starts -- a lot of them -- this season. But on Saturday, he still managed to depart with a lead, outpitching Tampa Bay ace David Price in the process. One can debate the merits of pitcher wins all you want; in the postseason, Lackey could not care less.

"It definitely wasn't the best stuff or the best I felt this year. It was probably pretty far down there, actually," Lackey said. "But we got through it."

"Tonight was a blue-collar night on the mound," Farrell said. "He gave us everything he had."

"Lack had to battle today," said catcher David Ross. "He really had to make some tough pitches. He didn't really have his fastball command, but he worked the quadrants really well. Backdoor breaking ball, sliders away in fastball counts, heaters up, heaters down -- he just tried to work on their weaknesses as well as his strengths. That's the guy who should get a lot of credit tonight. He really, really battled his tail off today."